Love England, love the Brits!

Christmas Carols

I am always interested in where the origin of traditions came from. Being an American, I know that many of them came from England originally. So, in that light I decided to research old English Christmas carols a bit. I love Christmas carols. I don’t generally start listening to them before November 15th. Why that particular date you may ask? Well, one year I started in early October and as much as I love them, I was just sick of them by Christmas day. I am a person that has always absolutely loved the entire season, I’m like a big kid about it! However, to me it’s a short special time. I’m like that with most things, if you do them for too long or too often, it’s no longer special.

When my girls were in high school, they were in choir and we all looked forward every year to going to the Christmas choir concert. I remember the first one, the lights went out, the auditorium was hushed and then down the aisles came these young voices, each carrying a candle and singing “Oh Come, Oh Come Emanuel”. I got chills and teary eyed, it was so beautiful and awe inspiring. They sang old familiar carols, medieval songs, new jazzed up renditions, but every concert ended with Handel’s “Messiah”. The entire audience on their feet and any of the high schools choir alumni were welcome to join and sing with the current generation. It was amazing!

So I checked out a few lists for old English songs that we know and hear every year. I admit that some of them I had assumed were American. I’ve been around for a while now and I remember the Christmas carols of my childhood, learned from playing my parents old albums every year on the record player.

Here are the most surprising ones that are of English origin along with the dates they were published:

Fun memories! I was in our High School Vocal Ensemble and Choir so very much remember how wonderful it was not only to sing these wonderful madrigals and carols, but also to see our audience rise to those first strains of ‘The Hallelujah Chorus”. I was surprised at “The Little Drummer Boy” being of English origin. Loved seeing the old album covers!